Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I can' promise it'll ever work, but yet welcome t'try." He shifted only to toss aside his vest and shirt and kick off his boots before curling up with her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You can't act all dower with me, Samuel Ghis. I've seen you smile before." Fiona said as his large form curled around her, protecting her in his wordless way.

 

[KieranSoares]

"They aren' mutually exclusive," Sam reminded, grumbling as he tried to get comfortable. He simply wanted the day to be over at this point. The next morning, the Triad would meet to discuss the future of Denmark in particular, but also the state of Kjersten's rule. With a daughter to raise, she'd need some aid to be both queen and mother without neglecting daughter or country. And as the representative of Scotland in Kate's place and of Inverness and as family, Sam would be consulted as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hush." Fiona said softly, teasing him as he hunkered down to sleep.

She smiled as his broad arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly. She had missed this too much to admit while they had been parted. She missed the way he smelled, his warmth, the way his heart thudded gently against her ear. She could tell him that a million times over, but one day he might be able to tell her the same.

 

[KieranSoares]

Morning was quiet and somber, and the serving staff brought breakfast to everyone's rooms rather than gathering in the dining hall, knowing most wanted a little more time away. When Fiona woke, a tray lay on the desk in the corner and Sam was leaning on the windowsill, the window open as he and Gaiann conversed. Despite his immense size, Gaiann could be quiet enough not to wake Fiona, and his hearing was sharp enough that Sam could speak just above a whisper.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I should have guessed that a dragon would steal you away one day." Fiona murmured as she woke, pushing herself up to look at Gaiann. "And I'm impressed that you haven't wanted to throttle Sam yet, Gaiann. He can be a stubborn one when he puts his mind to it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've wanted to. But he's too small, I'm liable to crush him." Gaiann chuckled and looked toward Fiona through the window. "He's actually quite bearable."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's bearable when you're an old grump too." Fiona murmured with a smile as she rose and pulled on a robe, moving to greet Gaiann properly with a nuzzle against his maw. "Thank you for keeping him alive for me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It isn't easy," Gaiann nodded, making Sam roll his eyes.

"We 'aven't done anythin' even remotely dangerous."

"Should I not tell her about the ship you wanted to chase down on the way, then?" At that, Sam shit the dragon a glare.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm sure Invah has told you all about the ship that we chased down and sank too." Fiona said with a smile towards Gaiann as Sam shot her a look as well. "It was an interesting day."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Multiple ships," Gaiann nodded, making Sam take a deep breath. "Your lovely fox is quite the hunter, it seems, man or beast."

"Seems like," Sam agreed, looking to Fiona for a long moment. He knew the tasks he'd requested of her, but he'd never expected her to really fight or be in extreme danger. But she had come through it all rather gracefully, if injured. Just from his expression, she would see that her Samuel was seeing her in a new light.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Keep that in kind, Ghis.” Fiona said with a smile towards Sam as she turned to help herself to breakfast.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd offer you a promotion, but Riders're in a class o' their own." Sam glanced to Gaiann and the dragon wandered off. Sam joined Fiona in the meal, looking over a letter as he ate as per usual.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I feel much better today. Maybe another day and I’ll be back to normal.” Fiona commented as Sam read over the letters that had been delivered in the evening.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Takes a while fer a wound like tha' to heal. Jus' take it easy," Sam murmured, dwelling on a note in a report. "... Looks like we'll 'ave some new visitors soon. Arslan Khan is in Sweden, he'll be here as soon as he's visited some family with Freja." Fiona had never met this particular man, a nomadic king of sorts and Kjotva's father who was apparently very close with the Triad and a staunch supporter of the Ghis Clan and the Scottish High Throne. Being not only their ally but also a neighbor to the Rus, he'd been sending small riding forces to help reinforce the Russian border with the Empire.

"He would've liked to be here to see Rakkar and Elhardt off, but 'e knew it couldn't wait that long." Sam placed the report aside. "But he'll probably stick around a while, which is helpful. Between him an' Christopher an' Ashien, we'll have one hell of a cavalry ready."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Are you really that worried about your aunt?” Fiona asked as Sam spoke about the great Khan coming and lending his might to the Forces that were already in place.

 

[KieranSoares]

"If not her, then Kristoff," Sam nodded. "An' I'm jus' waiting to hear who else was attacked. Seems like Barbarossa tried t'strike most counties in every allied country an' clan. An' we've lost loyal lords an' good rulers everywhere. I'll bet the Byzantines got a round o' beatings too, among other Southerners. But my concern is here... An' Kayla is a symbol as much as she is a proper queen. She tamed th'Rus twice, one o' the strongest and largest empires ever t'exist in th'east. If the Holy Roman Empire puts her down, they cement their mark in th' history o' the north an' they destroy morale and hope."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you think that you or I are targets?" Fiona asked softly as he explained things in the way that he understood them to be that moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I might be if Da announces me as 'is heir. An' yer a Rider. We're probably minor targets righ' now, but no one's payin' assassins fer our heads jus' yet." Sam sat back with a sigh. "But they'll figure out our other roles before long."

 

[heartofcourage]

“If you wish to throw off the trail of your Aunt, you could willingly make yourself a target. I don’t really condone it, but it might be a way to ease your mind.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam paused at the suggestion, considering it for a long moment. "... Tha' would depend on whether yer ready t'be engaged to a King. Only way I can think of t'take away their attention... An' Da needs the rest more'n he'll say. He jus' wants t'focus on family an' be with Ma. I'd be willing t'take over."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I suppose I should ask if you are ready to make me a queen.” Fiona said softly, looking at Sam as he considered all of that. “I have no fears, Love. I wish I could make you happy all of the time, but I know without hesitation that I love you and want to be your wife.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"You know you can choose not t'be a queen if you don' want to," Sam murmured, though he seemed surprised at her willingness after all their recent troubles. "I'd marry you in a heartbeat... But I want you t'be sure o' what we're walkin' into if I take the throne."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Sam, a title doesn’t scare me. Working hard doesn’t scare me. Doing without in hard times doesn’t scare me. I know that you are willing to do the same.” She said softly, reaching out to take his hand. “Could you honestly survive if I weren’t here?”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Survive, maybe. Live, not likely," Sam answered honestly. He knew exactly what would happen if Fiona left him. He'd go back to his old ways, get worse, and work until he died, be it by his own hand or someone else's, soon or far down the line. "I'm no' the sort t'die o' heartbreak... I'd keep goin' fer my family. But tha's about it."